Put brakes on trailer bill

Saturday

Jan 15, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Call him “The Man Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.”

No, it’s not another installment in Stieg Larsson’s “Millenium” series. It’s a proposal by state Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, that would make it illegal to carry a child younger than 6 either on a bike or in a bike trailer.

Greenlick, a former director of public health at Oregon Health & Science University, has received stinging criticism from bicycling advocates in Eugene, Portland and across the state. They’re furious at the prospect that Greenlick’s bill could curtail family biking and hurt businesses such as Burley Design in Eugene, which has sold bike trailers since 1978.

Greenlick recently told The (Portland) Oregonian that his bill was prompted by an OHSU study on injuries among Portland area bike commuters. Researchers found that one in five bike commuters had suffered a traumatic injury in the past 12 months.

While he knows of no studies identifying the risk of carrying children in trailers or on bikes, Greenlick introduced House Bill 2228 to kick-start a conversation in the Legislature. “This is how the process starts,” he said. “We have hearings. People start testifying. You start getting the information to find out whether there is a problem or not.”

Well, not necessarily. The process can also start by first seeking accurate information about the risks of young children on bikes — and, if none can be found, asking OHSU to conduct such a study.

Introducing legislation that bans young children on bikes is a good way to fill your e-mail in-box with messages calling you an “idiot” and your bill “ridiculous” — a mild sampling of the e-mails Greenlick has received. It’s not a good way to inspire a thoughtful, productive discussion.

A couple of final observations:

Most bicyclists, particularly those in avid biking communities, take appropriate precautions, ranging from wearing helmets to buying crash-tested trailers that limit the risk of accidents. Many communities, such as Eugene, have made it easier and safer for bicycling families by building and maintaining extensive, well-marked networks of bike paths.

Meanwhile, increasing numbers of people are turning to bikes as an alternative to motorized transportation, both for health reasons and because of a desire to reduce their carbon footprint. Greenlick’s bill would put families in the unhappy situation of having to use a car — or rely on public transportation that is not available in many communities.

Greenlick should withdraw his ill-advised bill and, once the hornets have returned to their nests, try a different approach to addressing the issue of safety and young children on bikes.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Register-Guard ~ 3500 Chad Drive, Suite 600, Eugene, OR 97408 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service